Nothing better than a free wagon...

TremekTremek New Wagonist
in Rides & Builds- Civic wagons
So I've finally got it. My father-in-law ended up buying a new '07 Toyota Matrix (maybe out of impatience? I don't know) and suddenly this thing was without a driver. My father-in-law bought it new in 1991, and has given me all the documentation for it including the dealer invoice. I'm thinking it will be a lot of fun to keep this thing in the family and make it better in the process. Anyway, I know it's not pretty right now, but it seems like it's going to be a fun start!

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I'm really leaning towards finding a B16A from a SiR I, having a shop massage it with the intent of a turbo, and upgrading suspension parts. Selling the '01 Accord EX coupe should definitely fund this enterprise. :twisted:

Comments

  • verderacerverderacer New Wagonist
    Thats sweet ! and what a deal too... You can never beat free.
  • TremekTremek New Wagonist
    While the exterior isn't pretty the interior's in great shape. My first creature-comfort endeavors will be to find a 94+ Integra or 96-00 Civic center console with an armrest and cupholders, and maybe find some good front seats that marginally match the rest of the interior (grey). Any recommendations in terms of seats or which center console would be better to aim for? I just wandered around our Pull-n-Save here and found only a 3rd gen wagon and a few highly-stripped 4th gen sedans... Wondering where I'm going to find this stuff.
  • verderacerverderacer New Wagonist
    I have always liked the DA seats and they are relatively easy to find in grey out here.
    Tremek wrote:
    While the exterior isn't pretty the interior's in great shape. My first creature-comfort endeavors will be to find a 94+ Integra or 96-00 Civic center console with an armrest and cupholders, and maybe find some good front seats that marginally match the rest of the interior (grey). Any recommendations in terms of seats or which center console would be better to aim for?
  • NJCIVICWAGON1NJCIVICWAGON1 Council Member
    Free!!! Thats cool!!! What are you are plans for it?
  • TremekTremek New Wagonist
    Oh man. I think I'm in love with the fat 5 wheels from the older GSRs. Anyone else on the board have fat 5s on their wagon? General plan is to find a good shop to work with in the Denver area, figure out what motor's the best bang for the buck (pretty seriously leaning towards a B16A from a JDM SiR right now - there's a shop out there selling a full longblock w/ accessories and a tranny for $1495 + free shipping), and then work on suspension with cosmetics coming last.

    My stepdad has an associate's in auto body & paint, and has volunteered to help/instruct me on how to touch up the body and then paint it. His dad's got a decked-out garage in which he's stripped a '55 Chevy down to the frame rails and built it back up (and painted it), and both of them are on board for the cosmetics end of this. I think they feel icky touching the Japanese car mechanically though (and I don't care :P )

    What's a good price for a set of fat 5s, btw? There's two Craigslist listings nearby selling 4 and 6 fat 5 wheels respectively for $250 obo.
  • quartersquarters Council Member
    you bastard
  • TremekTremek New Wagonist
    Btw, this car was purchased in Ohio in '91 but has since been a Colorado car since '93, when my wife's family moved here. The original CO title says it had 16,000 miles on it at the time, and consequently this thing has very little rust, just a tiny bit on the leading rear wheelwell arch on both sides. Hopefully I don't have to do any cutting... Looking at the body rot on some of the eastern cars I realize how fortunate it is that this one was spared!
  • ragenasianragenasian Moderator
    quarters wrote:
    you bastard

    What he said
  • TremekTremek New Wagonist
    ragenasian wrote:
    quarters wrote:
    you bastard

    What he said

    Now that that's established, help me increase this thing's inherent awesomeocity. :twisted: What would you do, for starters? I love your cars, ragenasian! Have any of you done the 94+ Integra center console/armrest swap? I've got a line on a grey one locally that he's asking $50 for but I don't know if a) this is a good idea or b) if that's a good price. I need input. ;)
  • ragenasianragenasian Moderator
    The first thing I do to every car is suspension and wheels. After I get that (sometimes it takes a few sets of rims before you find the right combo) then it is on to the simple bolt on mods of course, intake, headers, exhaust. Exhaust because we all know that that drinking straw on the back just begs to be replaced.

    I am not a big fan of going fast. The autobahn makes that boring really quick (I have seen 250kmh on a public road so I am good). Plus it doesn't take skill to go fast, it takes skill to drive these curves at high speed. My wife even loved the handling of the wagon after I put the Tein SS on there.

    Thanks for the compliment but my cars aren't special. Now wait for the AE86 to be done (money permitting). That thing is going to be a beast. :twisted:
  • @ries@ries New Wagonist
    sweet! what a nice father in law.
  • TIMELESSWHITETIMELESSWHITE Senior Wagonist
    can't beat that with a stick
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    wow damn clean! seriously, you bastard :x only free things i get are dents and first aid kits :P
  • ragenasianragenasian Moderator
    See only you young kids cry about getting free stuff. Free is free but it is never good enough is it. :lol: :lol:
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    never :x
  • TremekTremek New Wagonist
    @ries wrote:
    sweet! what a nice father in law.

    He's a good guy. In a way I think he also likes keeping the car in the family so to speak.
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